Key Takeaways
- GOBankingRates ranked the 50 most livable retirement towns in the U.S. Florida claimed 26 of them, including seven of the top 10.
- Ormond Beach ranked No. 2 nationally with a livability score of 83 out of 100, just one point behind No. 1 Dunedin.
- Three of the ranked towns are home to ICI Homes communities: Ormond Beach (No. 2), Venice (No. 10) and Fernandina Beach (No. 29).
- Headquartered in neighboring Daytona Beach, ICI Homes has built custom Florida homes since 1980.
In its ranking of America’s most livable retirement towns, GOBankingRates placed Ormond Beach at No. 2 in the nation. Florida dominated the list with 26 of the 50 spots, a finding also highlighted by Travel + Leisure.
For ICI Homes, headquartered just next door in Daytona Beach, the ranking confirms what our homeowners already know. Here’s a closer look at the findings and what they mean for anyone planning a Florida retirement.
How it was done
GOBankingRates used the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey to identify towns with at least 10,000 residents, at least 33 percent of whom are 65 or older. That filter focused the study on places with established retirement communities rather than general population centers.
Each town was then ranked by its livability score from AreaVibes, an index that measures overall quality of life on a scale of 100. Median household income was included for context.
What it found
The top 10 most livable retirement towns, with livability scores:
- Dunedin, Florida (84)
- Ormond Beach, Florida (83)
- Sebastian, Florida (83)
- Parole, Maryland (82)
- Oro Valley, Arizona (81)
- Gulfport, Florida (81)
- Pompton Plains, New Jersey (79)
- Estero, Florida (79)
- Naples, Florida (79)
- Venice, Florida (79)
Arizona placed second overall with eight towns on the list. No other state had more than four.
Why Ormond Beach stands out
Ormond Beach pairs coastal scenery with small-town character and easy access to everything the greater Daytona Beach area offers. A third of its residents are 65 or older, so newcomers find an established community of neighbors in the same stage of life.
Known as the Birthplace of Speed for the early auto races held on its hard-packed sand, Ormond Beach offers miles of Atlantic shoreline, the riverfront trails of Tomoka State Park, and The Casements, John D. Rockefeller’s former winter home and now a cultural center. Dining, shopping and Daytona Beach International Airport are all a short drive away.
ICI Homes in Ormond Beach
Two ICI Homes communities put buyers in the heart of the nation’s No. 2 most livable retirement town.
Plantation Bay is a gated golf community in Ormond Beach with a clubhouse, restaurant, spa, fitness center, swimming pool, tennis and pickleball courts, and walking and biking trails. Home options range from townhomes to estate homes, including move-in ready homes.
Verona Oceanside, in nearby Ormond-by-the-Sea, offers three-story oceanfront townhomes with elevators and ocean access. It’s a low-maintenance way to keep the beach just steps from home.
Two more ranked towns where we build
Venice, No. 10: ICI Homes builds in the Palmera, Oakbend and Westlake neighborhoods of Wellen Park, where residents enjoy resort-style pools, pickleball, a kayak launch and the Atlanta Braves spring training facility.
Fernandina Beach, No. 29: Amelia National Golf & Country Club is a gated golf community with a clubhouse, restaurant, fitness center and tennis courts, just minutes from Amelia Island’s beaches and historic downtown.
A home built around your next chapter
Retirement is the perfect time to build a home that fits the way you actually want to live. Since 1980, ICI Homes has helped buyers do exactly that through our in-house design and construction teams.
We move walls. Want a guest suite for visiting grandchildren, a dedicated hobby room, or a larger lanai for entertaining? Our team will help you shape a floor plan around your priorities rather than asking you to adjust to a fixed design.
Ready for your new Florida home? Talk to ICI Homes here.